1
as in inspires
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
a pep talk that encouraged the team to get out there and win
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in promotes
to help the growth or development of
asserted that the government should be encouraging small businesses, not smothering them with regulations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in provokes
to rouse to strong feeling or action
the movie's cheap special effects will not encourage audiences to sit on the edge of their seats but to roll in the aisles with laughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in urges
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
the pastor continues to encourage the couple to work out their problems in hopes of saving their marriage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of encourages
And, adds Scott, with a smile, Billy (their French poodle who has appeared in this column before) encourages donations to animal protection organizations.
—
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2026
Days ahead of the 2026 Grammys, Elton John encourages young artists to follow their dreams while introducing the Best New Artist nominees in a short film from Spotify.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2026
Still, on a personal level, this transit encourages flexibility and experimentation.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
The store will keep regular hours Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and encourages customers those days.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Writing down my successes gives me something to refer back to and encourages me to want to make further changes.
—Sarah Harvey, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
With ice and snow still on roads Thursday, Collin County Tax Assessor Scott Grigg also encourages residents to pay online.
—Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Pruning in late summer encourages new growth that won't have time to harden off before frost.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 29 Jan. 2026
Mercury retrograde late in February encourages reflection around trust, finances tied to others, and emotional boundaries.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2026
Days ahead of the 2026 Grammys, Elton John encourages young artists to follow their dreams while introducing the Best New Artist nominees in a short film from Spotify.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2026
Still, on a personal level, this transit encourages flexibility and experimentation.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
The store will keep regular hours Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and encourages customers those days.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Writing down my successes gives me something to refer back to and encourages me to want to make further changes.
—Sarah Harvey, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
With ice and snow still on roads Thursday, Collin County Tax Assessor Scott Grigg also encourages residents to pay online.
—Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Pruning in late summer encourages new growth that won't have time to harden off before frost.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 29 Jan. 2026
Mercury retrograde late in February encourages reflection around trust, finances tied to others, and emotional boundaries.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encourages
Verb
-
Part of the writer’s job—well, maybe all of it—is to leave behind a text that inspires feeling and debate.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Artificial intelligence inspires both excitement and anxiety, and few people are as well equipped to separate signal from noise as Rajeev Kapur.—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The event, which promotes TV shows and movies for the year and beyond, had only been announced to the press.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Jan. 2026
-
North Dakota and Rhode Island have among the most restrictive statewide bans, requiring phones be kept in inaccessible storage, according to an analysis by the Institute for Families and Technology, a nonprofit that promotes digital safety for children.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Fogel is always looking for the visual angle that provokes an emotional response.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
22 Jan. 2026
-
This ends up being just one of Aemond’s defining moments, which further provokes war.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
TxDOT is warning that conditions are still dangerous and urges people to stay home on Tuesday if possible.—
J.D. Miles,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
All TEXpress lanes have been closed due to the inclement weather and the Texas Department of Transportation urges residents to stay off the roads as much as possible over the weekend.—
Star-Telegram staff,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The psychological thriller, penned by Pulitzer Prize- and Tony-winning writer Tracy Letts (Coon's real life husband), cultivates fear slowly.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
-
This approach cultivates a culture of continuous improvement and trust, ultimately strengthening the team.—
Nancy Pulciano,
Rolling Stone,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The viral beauty gadget stimulates collagen, boosts circulation, and leaves you with plump, youthful results.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Continuing to seek out mental and social challenges stimulates brain metabolism, neuroplasticity and vascular health, according to Efrati, who also serves as chair of the medical advisory board at Aviv Clinics, which operates in Florida and Tel Aviv.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Queen Charlotte spends Season 3 sparring with and hunting down Lady Whistledown, while Lady Danbury nudges her to pay attention to the peerage, and in particular, Francesca.—
Kari Sonde,
Time,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Pisces February 19 – March 20 This morning nudges you into gentle motion.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The developers emphasized that the project is part of a broader effort to provide students with high-quality housing that fosters academic success, personal growth, and community engagement, while also contributing to the vitality of the West End neighborhood.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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Backed by research, this approach fosters psychological safety and can lead to higher productivity by prioritizing substance and emotional intelligence.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encourages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encourages. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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